Wire holding cup and spring combined

ABSTRACT

Our invention involves the use of a flexible element, shaped to serve as a holder or container unit, the size of the unit being varied as the element is flexed, and a gripping arm associated with and movable in proportion to the flexing of the said flexible element.

United States. Patent Inventors Thomas G. Boman Pataskala, Ohio (P.O. Box 203 Kirkesville,

Ohio 43033); Edward F. Sparks, 106 Fisher Road, Buffalo, N.Y. 14218 App1.No. 839,570 Filed July 7, 1969 Patented Mar. 9, 1971 v WIRE HOLDING CUP AND SPRING COMBINED Primary Examiner-Edward C. Allen Assistant ExaminerJ. Franklin Foss 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 248/311,

21 1/71, 211/181, 248/302 ABSTRACT: Our invention involves the use of a flexible ele- Int. Cl A47k l/08 ment, shaped to serve as a holder or container unit, the size of Field of Search 248/309, the unit being varied as the element is flexed, and a gripping 314, 311, 313,153,175,128;211/18l,112, 88, arm associated with and movable in proportion to the flexing 85, 74, 75, 71 of the said flexible element.

l9 l4 l0 2 ,M X a mmtum len 3568369 SHEETlUFZ i.1. 9 Es l5 s6 \9 \4 lo INVENTORS. BY THOMAS G. BOMAN.

EDWARD E SPARKs.

PATENTEBHAR SIS?! 7 3,568,969 SHEET 2 BF 2 nWwm; W BY THOMAS. G. BOMAN.

WIRE HOLDING CUP AND SPRING COMBINED Continuing, this invention relates generally to a holding or containing device and more particularly to one which is associated with means for maintaining the device in an operative or useful position.

The object of our invention is to provide a holder for receiving a container, thereby preventing upsetting or spilling, together with means for fastening the holder onto a shelf, ironing board or the like.

In this regard it is to be noted that the main body or container portion, formed to enclose a space of the required dimensions, is constructed of a flexible element capable of distortion without destroying the container portion and additionally serving to provide spring means as will be describedas the descriptionproceeds. In other words the compression of the spring body, which serves as a holder, only causes it to. decrease slightly in size, when it iscompressed and serving, along with a stop member, asa means for maintaining the device in position.

Another advantage of our device, alongthis same line, lies in the fact that the construction gives a relatively large area of contact at the lower or free end of the'tlexible body, that is, the one adjacent the stop member, whereby better grippingis assured in certain uses.

For example, the device could be appliedat a comer of a table, with the flexiblebody unit carrying the container and the bottom of this unit resting upon a table cloth with the stop member underneath the table. The bodyfunit serves to safely carry a container and also to hold the table cloth in position.

Our device may be used on and in planes, boats, trains, cars, trailers, trucks and all moving vehicles including wheel chairs, lawn and deck chairs...as well as serving trays, tables, desks, shelves, and the like, these items having the contacted flat surfaces located in more or less parallelism.

Our device is also usable and desirable in locations which call for more difficult clamping due to irregularcontactedsurface such as the ribbed edge of a high chair.

- In this instance the bottom of the coiled spring may be somewhat shifted laterally away from the rigid post to form a stable contact with the top of the tray, table or the like.

Furthermore, advantages lies in the inherent construction of our device, not only in its simplicity, this resulting in ease and economy of manufacture, but also in its expedient use in its many purposes in a minimum space.

Other objects, advantages and meritorious qualities reside in the special construction, combination and arrangement of the various elements forming our invention, as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein:

FIG. I is a side view of our invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line 2 --2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top or plan view of our invention, the lower-part.

of the article being omitted;

FIG. 4 is a side view of our article, looking in the direction several parts might be individually produced and then suitably joined.

Referring now to FIG. 1 and also to the following F IGS., nu meral 110 indicates a straight section of wire, closely paralleled by a similar section II; These two sections might be called the post structure.

At the upper end of section 11, the wire is bent outwardly to form a short sectionlZ, see FIG. 3, then downwardly to from handle section 13 and return bent to form juxtaposed handle section 14, see FIG. 4, and then inwardly to from section 15.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 1, section 15 is continued and formed into a semicircular loop 16, this loop encircling the upper portion of the body part of our device as will be understood as the description proceeds. This loop 16 aids in maintaining the body part closely adjacent to the post sections 10, II, but in slidable relation thereto. However, it is the rigidity of the wire itself at the angle connection 9 which largely maintains the parts in position.

The post section 10, see FIGS. 1 and 3, is bent laterally at about to form a complete enclosing element 18, that is, about 360. And, as will be understood, this encircling element 18, has one end integral with the post section 10 and the other terminal portion vertically supported bythe loop 16 whereby the encircling element is maintained in substantially a horizontal plane when the device is mounted in the usual vertical position.

From the above and also from the: description as it proceeds, it will be understood that the spring body portion of our invention is formed more less cylindrical or helical or perhaps gyroidal would best describe the shape or shapes.

Theencircling element 18 is continued downwardly in helical fashion to form another loop 19, then another loop 20 and then yet another loop 21. As is shown in FIG. [the terminal 21 contacts.

The loop or coil 21 terminates in anencircling p0rtion22 whereby sliding action is had therebetween and the post structure, namely, 10 and 11, previously referred to.

Post section 10is bent laterally to form a right-angle section 30, and adjacent section 11 isalso bent laterally to form an opposed section 31 and bight portion 32 is formed therebetween. This is shown in FIG. 2 As in also shown in FIG. 2, the lowermost coil 21 isformed to provide laterally extending portions 33 and 34 whereby stability is obtained between the bottom of the coil and its adjacent supporting surface.

To use our device, the user grasps over the coiled spring, the fingers of his right-hand grasping the lower loop or end of the coiled spring, raising it as much as is needed to make space enough to fitover the supporting table, ironing board or the like. Then, upon release the tension of the spring, the same moves toward the rigid stop, which consists of sections 30 and 31 connected by bight 32. However, when being used, the contact and holding action is against whatever object chosen to carry the device.

As shown inFlG. 5, the table 25 carries the device, dotted: lines 70 indicating the bottle, cup or the like encompassed therein.

In FIG. 6, the postisformed by section 40 and 41, these being bent to form a lateral portion 43, a vertical part 44, a horizontal part 45, another downwardly extending vertical part 46, a second lateral part 47 and a terminal bight part 48.

Numeral 50 indicates the lower coil of main body 51, shown only inpart, ending in a sliding loop 52, this loop 52 slidably engaging the post section Wand 41.

Numeral 54 indicates'an ironing board, having a depending rib 55. Cover and pad 56 are shown thereon.

From the structure described it will be apparent that grooves 57 and 58'are formed, and that upon application of this modified form ofour invention upon an ironing board that" groove 57 receives the edge of the board for more secure reception of he device thereto. The groove 58 provides an even seating of the lower loop 50 when the device is in inoperative position.

As shown in FIG. 6, numeral 72 indicates a container, such as-a spray or starch bottle, located in stable position, upon an unstable, or more or less, object.

in use, as explained above, one or more of the devices may be snapped in place on any comparatively flat part, or parts, incidentally holding them together, and thus the device or devices are maintained in position by automatic spring pressure. The gripping expansive bit of our structure percentagewise to overall dimensions is very high in our inventive concept and based upon a cursory estimative inspection of FIGS. 5 and 6 it will be seen that two plus inches may be encompassed readily.

The unit, among other things, holds beverage containers...such as bottles, cans glasses and disposable paper or plastic cups, thus preventing spilling accidents, and keeping things from falling or shifting out of place.

Tl-le accompanying illustration of our invention is merely a representative one and many changes in form, construction, and arrangement may be resorted to without departing from the principle of our invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

lclaim:

1. An article of the class described comprising, rigid means of appreciable length whereby a post is formed, a spring structure of gyroidal shape with an open upper end, means for attaching the spring structure onto the top of the post so as to extend alongside thereof, stop means, means for fastening said stop means onto the post to extend underneath the bottom end of the said spring structure and guide means slidably mounted for sliding movement on the post, said guide means being rigidly attached onto the said spring structure.

2. An article of the class described comprising, rigid means of appreciable length whereby a post is formed, a spring structure of gyroidal shape with an open upper end, means for attaching the spring structure onto the top of the post so as to extend alongside thereof, stop means, means for fastening said stop means onto the post to extend underneath the bottom end of the said spring structure and sliding means fixed onto the bottom portion of the spring structure, said sliding means engaging the said post for sliding movement therealong.

3. An article of the class described comprising, rigid means of appreciable length whereby a post is formed, a spring structure of gyroidal shape with an open upper end, means for attaching the spring structure onto the top of the post so as to extend alongside thereof, stop means, and means for fastening said stop means onto the post to extend underneath the bottom end of the said spring structure, said spring structure being shaped to form an encircling loop, said loop being located below the top of the said post and loosely encircling the said post whereby sliding movement obtains.

4. A combination of elements as per claim 3 in which said encircling loop is located at the lower end of the said spring structure. 

1. An article of the class described comprising, rigid means of appreciable length whereby a post is formed, a spring structure of gyroidal shape with an open upper end, means for attaching the spring structure onto the top of the post so as to extend alongside thereof, stop means, means for fastening said stop means onto the post to extend underneath the bottom end of the said spring structure and guide means slidably mounted for sliding movement on the post, said guide means being rigidly attached onto the said spring structure.
 2. An article of the class described comprising, rigid means of appreciable length whereby a post is formed, a spring structure of gyroidal shape with an open upper end, means for attaching the spring structure onto the top of the post so as to extend alongside thereof, stop means, means for fastening said stop means onto the post to extend underneath the bottom end of the said spring structure and sliding means fixed onto the bottom portion of the spring structure, said sliding means engaging the said post for sliding movement therealong.
 3. An article of the class described comprising, rigid means of appreciable length whereby a post is formed, a spring structure of gyroidal shape with an open upper end, means for attaching the spring structure onto the top of the post so as to extend alongside thereof, stop means, and means for fastening said stop means onto the post to extend underneath the bottom end of the said spring structure, said spring structure being shaped to form an encircling loop, said loop being located below the top of the said post and loosely encircling the said post whereby sliding movement obtains.
 4. A combination of elements as per claim 3 in which said encircling loop is located at the lower end of the said spring structure. 